Friday, July 4, 2014

Fourth Of July

Happy Fourth of July! Happy Canada Day! (Friends Downunder - you celebrating anything?) Not sure what we're doing today....we have not been invited to one single 4th of July party. Not one! How embarrassing, I think I'll have to pretend I'm out of town, or even out of the country. I'm in BoraBora right now, cover for me will you?

Me and Kevin. No we're not at a party, we're just standing in the backyard.

Now we're in dog poop corner. I mean literally, that's not a metaphor for the US.

Preparing to make my sssingle sssolitary margarita

I love living in the US. As David Sedaris says: "The great thing about living in a country that's not your own: you don't have to take responsibility for the bad stuff and you can take credit for the good." Or something like that.

Thought I'd tell you about the summer so far:

*On Saturday night we saw a wonderful movie called Obvious Child, the most unusual rom-com. I won't tell you about it (it doesn't have hangar appeal) as you won't want to see it and the jokes are too ribald to repeat. One funny line - the 50-something mother of the main character bursts into the room dressed in a long grey cardigan. "Oh you gave me a fright!" says the daughter "You came in like a Ninja Eileen Fisher."

*Once upon a time I used to start signing the kids up for day camps in January: summer became a military operation. This year Harley, 16, has a (well-paid!) job teaching tennis at a summer camp. Oh what sweet words "Bye Mum, I'm off to work!" He is spending three(!) evenings a week learning the Cotillion. He is in the "court" of a girl at school who is having her Debut, a Filipino coming of age. Apparently there is a feast with every practice.

Four years ago: Jackson, Harley and Cy at carpentry camp

Showing the stuff they made

*Tallulah is spending endless hours "hanging out" with her friends in her room. They Facetime other friends who are not in the room. Le sigh.

*Jackson is playing baseball and lacrosse, a new sport for him, exciting but very violent. As with any sport, there is the usual chorus of FatDads who know everything and generously impart their knowledge at every play. After the ref threw one kid out for pushing another to the ground, FatDad next to me yelled: "They're only kids!"

*Cy got a black eye from a flyball in baseball. I went to take a picture of him to send to friends and family, as you do. "Leave it until tomorrow" he said "It'll look much worse." I like the way that kid thinks.

Flyball!

I didn't manage to get to Gay Pride this year or the pink party my friends had the night before, but I have fond memories of meeting the charming Chico's Angels a few years ago.

Me and Chico's Angels, couple of years ago

Cue music and loads of hair flicking. Were you Kelly, Kris or Sabrina?

We used to do 4th parties for a long time then gave it up. Those people would never leave and we were on borrowed time before some one lost a limb because of the "festivities". Tonight we are grilling burgers, although Hunter is now talking dogs too, having wine and watching the dogs shriek in fear of the fireworks and/or gun shots.

NZ doesn't really have an independence day. We do have Waitangi Day which was the day NZ split from the British Empire, but it was also the day that the Maori people had land and rights taken from them - so that day has been fraught with tension in the past.

Anyone who can explain this better please jump in here.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Waitangi

Anzac Day is the day we remember all those who fought bravely in the war.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day

I chuckled at myself yesterday--- there I was an American (okay also a German...) on the 4th of July sitting in Singapore watching Germany take on France in the World Cup--- aren't I international? Beyond that realization I don't even think I realized it was Independence Day! Ha! Living abroad really does change perspectives....

Had a chuckle at your captions. Hurray for children slowing becoming financially independent instead of remaining life-sucking, money-draining leeches. Theoretically speaking of course, my children are awesome.

Great post I am laughing at fat dads they are at every sport and in every country I always think they live through their children and should get up and do some exercise themselves rant over. Hope you have a good weekend

Jody, Loved this. What a cute pic from that carpentry camp! My youngest is doing much the same as Talullah and my Jackson is supposed to be doing an internship... Not sure how much he'll actually do. You guys looked so festive. Love Kevin's shirt. Our fourth was a long day and my family has to stay out at our friends until everything that can possibly be blown to bits is... :PEnjoy the weekend!! xo

Love the boys at carpentry camp, we only have sports clubs I think! And how exactly do you get a 16 year old to get a job? I need help on that one!I'd like to think I was Kelly, but I'm sure I wasn't!If you missed Gay Pride why not pop over to our primary school, we're having Proud Friday next week, kids go dressed in rainbow colours for the day.

Great Post sorry Im', late.......was checked most of the weekend........you know cooking and cleaning up a bit!THAT BOY CY........HYSTERICAL......."leave it for tomorrow!"My BOYS too did the DEB thing!Good experience for them all............and a MAGICAL night!Hope you get to go see it??